Labour Studies (LBST) 200

Introduction to Labour Studies (Revision 4)

Introduction to Labour Studies is offered in two designations: LBST 200 and LBST 202. LBST 200 is open to all Athabasca University students (and other students who wish to take the course for transfer credit elsewhere) who are interested in the subject matter. LBST 202 is offered with the same content as LBST 200 and is the designation used for students who register through the Labour College of Canada. Athabasca University’s Labour Studies Program and the Labour College, which is hosted by the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), have established a collaboration that allows members of any of the unions affiliated with the CLC to register in LBST 202 at a discounted tuition rate. However, since the content is the same in both courses, there is just one set of course materials and one website for both of them.

Important Links

Overview

This course examines the field of labour studies and the place of working people and the labour movement in society. It provides an overview of Canadian labour history, the ways unions are organized, why they matter, and which challenges they are facing today. The course then takes a closer look at unions in the public sector, where the majority of unionized workers in Canada are employed, and concludes with a look at labour experiences in India, China, and South Africa to see whether these experiences contain lessons that might be useful to the labour movement in Canada or other countries of the Global North.

Outline

Unit 1: What Is Labour? Why Study It and How?

Unit 2: The Canadian Labour Movement: Past, Present, and Perspectives

Unit 3: Unions in the Public Sector

Unit 4: Work in Progress: A Global Labour Movement

Evaluation

To receive credit for LBST 200, you must complete three written assignments, contribute to four discussion forums, and achieve an overall grade of “D” (50 percent) or better for the entire course. Your final grade is determined by a weighted average of the grades you receive on these assignments for credit. The weightings of each assignment are as indicated below.

Activity

Weight

Assignment 1: Book Review

20% of final grade

Assignment 2: Essay

25% of final grade

Assignment 3: Essay

35% of final grade

Assignment 4: Discussion Forum 1

5% of final grade

Assignment 5: Discussion Forum 2

5% of final grade

Assignment 6: Discussion Forum 3

5% of final grade

Assignment 7: Discussion Forum 4

5% of final grade

Total

100%

To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.

Other Materials

Other course materials include an AU Student Manual, Course Information, and a Study Guide, which are all available online through the course home page.

Challenge for Credit Course Overview

The Challenge for Credit process allows students to demonstrate that they have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, and intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university level course.